A study was conducted by the scientists from the Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur, India. The study shows that on-farm cattle waste management with the use of constructed soil pits with partial ventilation according to the NADEP Technology and production of biogas from waste will help to control methane load in the atmosphere in India.

If funding for construction of such waste pits and community biogas production units is available at each village of six hundred twenty four district of India, there will not only be reduction in methane emissions but India may become self-sufficient in energy resources.

This will also contribute to enhance the fertility and water holding capacity of soil which promotes agricultural economy and reduction in use of chemical fertilizers.

India is one of the major countries handling dairy production since ancient time, with a significant potential to improve cattle waste management. Currently, most of the cattle waste is stored/dumped in open space, exposed to sun light and rain fed, which leads to emissions of methane and reduction in fertility value of the cattle waste.

SOIL PITS FOR EFFICIENT LIVESTOCK WASTE MANAGEMENT

Dr. DN Bajad*, Dr. CD Khedkar** and Dr. SD Kalyankar** from Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University, Telangkhedi, Nagpur (India).

ABSTRACT
For converting the livestock waste into wealth, a low-cost environmental-friendly method has been developed based on NADEP technology. A baseline survey conducted on the measures adopted in the villages to manage the livestock waste revealed that major portion of the livestock waste is dumped without any management. Strikingly the highest portion of the waste gets percolated and run-away with the rain water, some is disposed off in soil pits and the remaining part is converted into cow-dung cakes which are used as fuel. Negligible portion is utilized for biogas production and some portion remains unattended.

For efficient and effective management of the livestock waste, a cost-effective and environment-friendly system is developed wherein pits of 5’X10’X3’ are constructed with just 6” underground pits and major portion remains exposed to the open air. The pits are prepared by using locally available soil bricks with alternative windows so as to facilitate full ventilation and aeration. These pits are erected in series on the barren land in which agriculture waste is chopped and filled in compact layers of 15’ followed by a layer of dung slurry covered with a layer of soil 4’. Alternatively, the active culture of nitrogen-fixing and phosphate solublizing bacteria was sprinkled along with earthworms.

It was observed that within a period of 75-80 days the entire agriculture and livestock waste in the pits gets converted into invaluable wealth i.e. compost very rich in N, P and K along with active biomass of the bacteria and earthworm cocoons. The cost of the pit is just INR 2500/- i.e. US$ 50. This method will automatically control the methane emission from the livestock waste to the environment.

The research is based on NADEP Technology. For details see the attached file.

*Dean, Faculty of Dairy Technology, Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University, Telangkhedi, Nagpur(MS) India; Author for correspondence.

**College of Dairy Technology, Pusad-445 204 (MS) India